ACTUALITIES IN ENDOCRINOLOGY- PARATHYROID IMAGING.

Parathyroid imaging modalities have been used to guide clinicians and surgeons in finding the source of hyperparathyroidism for over 40 years. Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is generally caused by a parathyroid gland(s) autonomous production of parathyroid hormone (PTH), associated by enlargement of one or more glands. Noninvasive imaging procedures that are used in the management of hyperparathyroidism are anatomical (ultrasound, computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) and/or functional (nuclear medicine techniques: planar scintigraphy, single photon emission tomography, positron emission imaging) and/or hybrid imaging.

Handgrip Strength Predicts Longitudinal Changes in Clock Drawing Test Performance. An Observational Study in a Sample of Older Non-Demented Adults.

OBJECTIVE: Impairment of physical performance might identify older people at higher risk of dementia over time. The present study evaluated handgrip strength as independent predictor of cognitive decline. DESIGN: Observational, prospective. Follow-up duration: 11.2 ± 0.8 months. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Geriatric outpatients center. 104 consecutive stroke- and dementia-free older adults (44% men, ages 80.2 ± 5.4 years). METHODS: The Clinical Dementia Rating scale and the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) were administered. Handgrip strength was assessed using a Jamar hand dynamometer. Brain magnetic resonance imaging studies at 1.5 T were performed. White matter damage was expressed as severity of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). Longitudinal changes in cognitive function were expressed as 1-year decline in CDT performance. RESULTS: A robust association was observed between baseline handgrip strength and 1-year cognitive decline after multiple adjustment. Of note, the strength of such association was only minimally attenuated after adjusting for deep WMHs extent (ß coefficient for handgrip strength = 0.183, SE= 0.038, p= 0.007, R2= 0.58). CONCLUSIONS: Handgrip strength predicted accelerated 1-year decline in cognitive function, assessed by CDT, in a sample of older adults. Future studies are needed to elucidate the causal mechanisms linking limitations in physical function with dementia risk.

[A new cause of ocular trauma due to "blast" injury]. / O noua cauza de traumatisme oculare prin "blast".

Are presented five observations of ocular trauma caused by blast of plastic siphon-bottles during their loading. Two of them result in eyeball evisceration, in the three others the visual function was kept. We deem necessary the respecting of single use instruction for these plastic containers and possibly--the ban of theirs using like siphon.